Sr. Planner, Merchandise

Five Below

Jun 22

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Senior Level
Hospitality & Retail
Philadelphia

Requirements

5-7 years of experience in a retail or wholesale environment, including time spent as a planner
Bachelor’s Degree
Demonstrated retail math and business acumen, including margin planning, sales forecasting, and inventory productivity measures
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to present complex information in a clear and compelling manner
Peer leader capable of creating alignment among cross-functional stakeholders by building strong business cases and driving execution
Attention to detail and strong time management, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Advanced proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Knowledge of PowerBI, Microstrategy, 09 MFP, and Oracle RMS a plus

Responsibilities

Merchandise Financial Planning:
Leverage corporate financial targets to develop seasonal sales, inventory, and margin plans by Department-Classification and store groups
Assortment Planning:
Determine style-color and depth targets by attribute and store group for each area of business to support product selection in market
Manage SKU & style intensive category
Manage location intensive assortments
Demand Planning:
Develop sales forecasts and buy quantity estimates to determine the appropriate inventory levels for each product considering factors such as lead times, seasonality, and turn targets to optimize inventory investment
Open-to-Buy Management:
Manage the open-to-buy (OTB) budget for a category of business, $50-150M, to ensure inventory investment funds sales and margin plans, adjusting as necessary
Inventory Management:
Manage inventory levels and receipts to ensure optimal stock vs. sales levels, monitoring in season to minimize stockouts and overstocks
Markdown and End-of-life Management:
Manage markdown and MOS budgets to balance inventory ownership and margin objectives
Collaborate with key partners to identify pricing and liquidation opportunities to manage the transition of products
Analyze sales performance and make recommendations for pricing adjustments, promotions, and markdowns to optimize profitability
Performance Analysis:
Analyze sales, inventory, and margin performance to assess the effectiveness of merchandising strategies and identify areas for improvement, providing insights and recommendations to Buyers for optimizing assortment and inventory levels
Leverage weekly business insights to understand item level performance to maximize in season opportunities, minimize liability, and inform future seasons
Generate regular reports and analysis to provide insights into sales, inventory, and profitability metrics to senior management
Test multiple business strategies simultaneously, quantifying & communicating business impacts and be able to report results clearly and concisely to Executive management
Leadership:
Create and maintain alignment among peers on merchandising and allocation teams on forecast changes and inventory strategies
Participate in regular meetings and strategic discussions to provide input on merchandise planning strategies
Grow and develop Associate Planner, providing appropriate opportunities for training, career development, and talent retention

FAQs

What is the primary responsibility of a Senior Merchandise Planner?

The primary responsibility of a Senior Merchandise Planner is to own sales, margin, and inventory forecasting for a department with high complexity and sales >$150M annually in an omni-channel environment.

What kind of environment does a Senior Merchandise Planner work in?

A Senior Merchandise Planner works in a fast-paced omni-channel environment with high complexity and a focus on sales, margin, and inventory forecasting.

What skills are essential for success in the role of Senior Merchandise Planner?

Essential skills for success in the role of Senior Merchandise Planner include attention to detail, strong analytical skills, the ability to work closely with cross-functional partners, and experience with top-down, bottoms-up, and demand planning.

How does a Senior Merchandise Planner contribute to the Planning Team?

A Senior Merchandise Planner is a leader on the Planning Team, providing peer support and developing a direct report Associate Planner. They also work closely with cross-functional partners on the merchandising and allocation teams to create alignment through detailed analysis and recommendations.

What is the annual sales threshold for departments that a Senior Merchandise Planner is responsible for?

A Senior Merchandise Planner is responsible for departments with sales >$150M annually.

Five Below

Five Below is a store with unlimited possibilities where tweens, teens and beyond are free to Let Go & Have Fun!

Retail & Consumer Goods

Industry

10,001+

Employees

2002

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

At Five Below our growth is a result of the people who embrace our purpose: We know life is way better when you are free to Let Go & Have Fun in an amazing experience, filled with unlimited possibilities, priced so low, you can always say yes to the newest, coolest stuff! Just ask any of our over 20,000 associates who work at Five Below and they’ll tell you there’s no other place like it. It all starts with our purpose and then, The Five Below Way, which is our values and behaviors that each and every associate believes in. So if your heart is beating a little quicker and your smile is getting bigger now that you know what we’re all about, let’s just say your search for a one-of-a-kind experience that’s much more than a j-o-b just might be officially ending HERE. It’s all about culture at Five Below, making this a place that can inspire you as much as you inspire us with big ideas, super energy, passion, and the ability to make the workplace a WOWplace!